Amy C. Cory, PhD, RN, CPNP-PC

Assistant Professor

Biography

Professor Cory teaches in the undergraduate program and
guest lectures in the graduate program. Her areas of expertise are in pediatric
and school nursing with an emphasis on primary health care. She is certified as
both a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and a Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist.
She is currently practicing as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in the role of a
Child Care Health Consultant in Northwest Indiana.
She is an active member of the American Public Health Association, American
School Health Association, National Association of Pediatric Nurse
Practitioners, and Sigma Theta Tau. She is a member of the board of directors
of the Valparaiso YMCA and is on the Valparaiso Community Schools Coordinated
School Health Program Advisory Committee. Her research interests are in primary
health care for children and families; early childhood nutrition and physical
activity; and childhood obesity prevention in the home, school, and community.
She has published articles in the Journal
of School Health.

Education

PhD - University of Illinois at Chicago 2007MSN - Marquette University 1999BSN - Indiana University 1994

Certifications

Certified as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board

Areas of Specialization

Maternal-Child Health

Global Health

Research Interests

Community-Based Participatory Action Research Community-based participatory action research is a collaborative method to the research process that involves developing a research study with community partners. Academic researchers engage community partners in the following phases of the research process: partnership, assessment, planning, implementation/action, evaluation, and dissemination. The goal of the research process is to recognize and build upon the strengths and existing resources in the community to improve health equity.

Current Research

Beyond the VolcanoesA Community Partnership for Health in Rural Nicaragua Health inequities related to gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and geography exist in rural Nicaragua. The purpose of this ongoing research study is to improve health equity in rural Nicaragua through social transformation using community-based participatory action research. Community-based participatory action research involves six phases: partnership, assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination. Thirteen key informant interviews were completed in the partnership phase. Seventy-seven community members completed a health survey in the assessment phase. Community members identified respiratory illnesses as their primary health concern: They described poor air quality as a potential cause for their health concern. Health-related goals included improving air quality. Using currently available community health resources, educational interventions and community action were cited as the primary action plans to reach the community's health-related goals. To date, over 100 improved cookstoves have been built in the community. Community members report improved health outcomes related to respiratory health, eye irritation, and headaches.